Running 2023 Motorsports thread

Getting ready to cross the state for a day of sitting in the stands, capped by the Truck race. It's still hard not to pack a computer bag instead of a cooler. And I have no idea where my hard card is, nor do I care.

 

Are there hard cards for life?

 

No, just five to ten, with early parole for good behavior.

(Serious answer: No. You have to request a new one every season and fill out the form saying you won't sue NASCAR if you get killed by flying car parts. So my last one was 2012. But I'm certain if you are wearing a lanyard and walking with purpose, you could get anywhere.)

 

Always enjoy checking out the new paint schemes (#43 - Guns N' Roses!, #99 Tootsies Orchid Lounge!) but really, so odd not seeing Home Depot or Lowe's or some of the other old reliables. Also surprised we're not seeing sponsors targeting seniors like "Miracle Ear" or "Depends."

https://www.jayski.com/paint-schemes/cup-series-paint-schemes/2023-nascar-cup-series-paint-schemes/

 

Easiest job on the planet: Red Bull’s livery designer.

 

Too early for me to pick up the humor you're putting down.

 

A giant to his rest.

Shoichiro Toyoda, Who Helped Make Toyota a Global Force, Dies at 97

 

Getting starting line access to an NHRA national event is insane in terms of not holding anyone liable.

 

No joke. The "Oracle" on the sidepod used to be "Red Bull." Other than that their liveries are pretty much identical for the past decade.

 

Some weird number things regarding the Daytona 500 and February 18: three of the most memorable Daytona 500s happened on Feb. 18
1979: Voted this week by the AP as the most memorable NASCAR race in history, with The Fight and Petty's sixth win. The strong rookie class of 1979 was led by Dale Earnhardt, making his first Daytona 500 start.
1990: Earnhardt's car was dominant all day, as he was never passed while running on four properly inflated tires. That car never lost a race...except for the Daytona 500, when it blew a tire in the last corner.
2001: Earnhardt is killed on the last lap of the Daytona 500. That came 22 years to the day after his first Daytona 500. Today is exactly 22 years later.

 

Saw this the other day, but hadn't seen it mentioned here. Tony Stewart is back racing a full schedule — in the NHRA.

Tony Stewart will run full NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster schedule with Mobil 1

 

Unless he is uncomfortable in the cars, that seems odd to me for someone of his fame and resources.
Jumping right into Top Fuel wouldn't be a wise decision for most folks, but he did TAD last year, and he certainly has the backing to get as much seat time in TF or FC during the off season as he needs to go racing.